Spotlight on FMIers: Gisèle Ferrand

To discover the molecular mechanisms of health and disease, some FMI researchers use animals such as mice and fish. This animal research will help to understand the causes of conditions including cancer, Parkinson's disease and psychiatric disorders, paving the way to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. As head of the FMI animal facility, Gisèle Ferrand leads a large team of experts looking after the wellbeing of mice and fish used in experiments. In this Q&A, Gisèle talks about her career trajectory, how her team cares for lab animals, and what will happen if Swiss voters approve a referendum calling for a ban on animal experimentation. You're a veterinarian by training. How did you end up working in an animal research facility? I attended vet school in Lyon, France, where I did an internship in internal medicine of small animals, such as dogs and cats. I wanted to work in a vet practice, but I was disappointed that people didn't take good care of their pet animals. Having a friend working in lab animal medicine, I realized that the ethical standards in the field were excellent and people cared for lab animals more than most people would care for their pets. So, when I was offered a job as responsible of the animal facility at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), I moved to Lausanne. There, I also worked as a clinical vet at the école polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne. What do you like the most about your job as head of the FMI animal facility?